Piedmont Coastal Repeater Network (PCRN) FAQ

Q: What is PCRN?

A: PCRN is a network of 2 Meter Amateur Radio repeaters which are capable of being linked together when necessary for emergency communications and routine Amateur communications. Some of the repeaters are owned and operated by PCRN and others are affiliated with but owned by others or by clubs.

Q: Where does PCRN get its money to operate?

A: Largely, funding comes from the pocket of the founder, Danny Hampton, K4ITL. There are "Supporting Members" of the organization who make annual donations to the cause to help keep it going.

Q: Why would anyone want to contribute money to PCRN if the repeaters are open?

A: Well, the Amateur Radio tradition is to help support at least one repeater - usually, the one used most often. Many repeaters are supported by clubs who own and operate them and their members are considered supporters. PCRN is not a "club" but, in some respects, operates like one. We have established a "Supporting Membership" structure under which we supply detailed usage information to those who support us with a minimum donation of $20 per year. The information package consists of a tale of access codes for the repeaters in the network, access to the autopatch on any repeater in the local area of the supporter and irregular newsletters with update information as it becomes available.

Q: How do I become a Supporting Member?

A: You can mail a check for at least $20 to:

PCRN

P.O. Box 12734

Raleigh, NC 27605

You can also send payment via PayPal. See the previous web page and click on the PayPal link under “Becoming a PCRN Member”.

Q: Is there any such thing as a "Family Membership?"

A: All PCRN Supporting Memberships are considered household memberships. Any spouse or offspring living in the same house are included in this membership.

Q: Are there any meetings for PCRN?

A: No, we try very hard not to clash with other Amateur Radio clubs. We always recommend membership in your local ham club.

Q: Is there a telephone number where I can call if I have specific questions or need help?

A: No, unfortunately we are operated by all volunteer members and these positions change from time to time, so there is no "official" telephone number or contact. The only real way to contact us is via the P.O. Box above or via email. Try contacting k4itl@sera.org or w4fal@sera.org .

Q: Am I buying a service with my contribution?

A: No. We cannot guarantee anything. Again, we are operated by volunteers who often put their own money into the effort to make up shortfalls when major repairs are needed. This is not a business. PCRN has however operated and maintained a large complex network of linked repeaters for many years, so there is a track record established.

Q: Can I volunteer to help with some aspect of operating the PCRN?

A: We appreciate hearing from our members who believe they have something to offer PCRN. There are only a few "jobs" that need to be done - but we often have special needs, also. Drop us a note at the above P.O. Box if you are interested in some sort of help.

Q: How big is the network?

A: It changes as new repeaters come on line and, occasionally, one will leave the network. Basically, it covers most of North Carolina, a large part of Virginia and some of West Virginia and some of South Carolina . The expandable nature of the linking system we use allows it to be much larger if we have repeater owners in other areas who are interested in being a part of this network.

Q: Let me get this straight now - As a PCRN member, can I get on a local 2-meter repeater near the coast of North Carolina and connect to another repeater over in the mountains?

A: You certainly can, subject to the two locations having PCRN machines available.

Q: Can I use the autopatch on a distant machine in order to make a call to someone who is not a ham?

A: No. PCRN requires that any linking repeater automatically disable their autopatches while the link is up. This is to prevent any of us from attempting to avoid making toll calls and, thereby, saving money (illegally).

Q: How can all the members use this network so much without causing interference with each other?

A: First of all - we ask our members to minimize the duration of each linking. We must remember that each time we link two repeaters, we are tying up both 2-meter machines and the backbone network as well. We do encourage members to use the linking system from time-to-time to ensure that they remember how to use it.

Q: Can more than two repeaters be linked at one time.

A: It depends on what you mean by that. Yes, technically, all the repeaters in the network can be tied together at one time forming what amounts to one gigantic repeater! This is, obviously, ill-advised except for special occasions and wide-spread emergencies or disasters. If you mean can there be two sets of two repeaters links in two separate sessions simultaneously, the answer is no. There is but one backbone. The backbone consists of several frequencies (some 220 MHz and some 440 MHz) that tie various regions or "linking hubs" together.

Q: How many different repeaters are there in the network?

A: As mentioned earlier, this depends on when you ask. The current list of machines is available for viewing on the previous web page. The actual linking information is not included, however.